Larry wasn’t left behind on purpose, but somehow he’d been dropped at the zoo. The giraffe keeper picked him up and put him in his own special place just inside the enclosure. Sure he was a giraffe, but he wasn’t the same as the real ones. He knew he didn’t quite fit.

He had a special job however. Isaac the keeper always put his pounamu tiki around Larry’s neck before feeding time. He didn’t want to lose something so precious. One night Isaac forgot it and something wonderful happened. Larry finally got the chance to leave the other giraffes and search where he truly might belong.

Larry met pukeko, possums, ducks and other creatures. He tried digging, swimming, and climbing too. Nothing felt right and his search seemed in vain. Just when he’d given up, someone found him. He was suddenly warm, welcomed and sure that this was where he was supposed to be.

A sweet story sharing the resilience and courage of a lost toy, looking for a proper home. The text involves the young reader, asking questions about Larry on his journey. Reo is sprinkled through the story with a glossary at the rear of the book.

These both ground this story in New Zealand and allow other young readers or listeners from other cultures to learn a little reo.

This story has been written for those searching for their place in their world. The author and her daughter had to flee a dangerous situation, and an op-shop soft toy giraffe and a story written on a napkin became this picture book.

Now the CEO of registered charity I Got Your Back Pack, which supports survivors of domestic violence across New Zealand, Anita Hinton has earned a Kiwibank Local Hero Award for the important work she does.

All proceeds from A Place I Truly Belong go to “…helping kids create hope from their trauma.”

Author – Anita Hinton

Illustrators – Michelle Euinton & Shaila Awadh

Picture Book

(Mary Egan Publishing, Soft Toy, Animals, Home, Belonging, Fitting in, Special place, Keep trying, Never give up, Matariki, Zoo, Caring, Kindness)